MSC World America Makes First Call to San Juan Port

The Puerto Rico government marked the maiden arrival of MSC World America with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony at the Port of San Juan on April 15, 2025.

The celebration took place onboard the MSC Cruises ship during its inaugural visit to Puerto Rico, with officials from both the cruise line and local government gathering in the vessel’s Loft Comedy Club for the occasion.

Notable attendees included Cruise Director Eversen Bevelle, known as “Reverend Dr. E,” and Captain Dino Sagani. They were joined by Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Norberto J. Negrón Díaz, San Juan Cruise Port General Manager Clarivette Díaz, Puerto Rico Tourism Company Subdirector Jorge Pérez, and Janice Alonso, Country Manager for Pérez & CIA.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company stated that MSC World America is scheduled to call at San Juan six times during the current fiscal year, generating an estimated $2.8 million in economic benefit for the island.

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France, MSC World America entered service in April 2025 as the second ship in MSC Cruises’ World-class series. The 205,700-ton vessel was christened in Miami during a ceremony featuring actress Drew Barrymore as godmother and a celebratory drone and fireworks show.

The ship’s inaugural seven-night sailing, which began on April 12, included stops in Puerto Plata and MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in addition to San Juan.

MSC World America is now operating week-long cruises departing from MSC’s newly opened terminal in PortMiami, offering itineraries across both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with regular calls to Ocean Cay in the Bahamas.